Banitsa Festival in Balvan, in the Veliko Tarnovo district

The festival will be held for the fourth
consecutive year in the village of Balvan near Veliko Tarnovo. This time,
it will take place on August 31st, Saturday from 9.30 am and will be called
“The Banitsa on weekdays and holidays”. Around 20 people from all
over the country have signed up to participate with the traditional Bulgarian delicacy and in the folklore program.

Many prizes are planned for masters of the banitsa, starting from first, second and third prizes, to prizes for the youngest and oldest contestant, for the most original banitsa, as well as a special award from the Mayor of Balvan and the Mayor of Pavlikeni. Guests from Bela Palanka in Serbia are expected, as well as the famous chef Ivan Zvezdev. Guests of the festival will, of course, be able to taste the prepared culinary delights. A new highlight of the festival will be the demonstration of rolling out sheets of loose dough.

The banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian baked dish, which consists of rolled up or layered sheets of loose dough with stuffing between them. Various fillings are used – most often cheese or cottage cheese, with or without added eggs. The dish can also be made with vegetables, meat, fruits and so on. Almost no holiday goes by without a banitsa on the festive table. Since this year, the festival has officially been included in the cultural calendar of the Veliko Tarnovo Municipality. So if you fancy a nice plate of delicious baked goods, stop by the Banitsa Festival in the village of Balvan.

This Sunday, August 18, the village of Balvan will celebrate its church holiday. Residents and guests will honour the great Bulgarian and Orthodox Saint Ivan Rilski, who is considered a heavenly patron of the settlement. In the local church, bearing the name of the saint, a liturgy will be held at 9.00 by Father Ivan. The Mayor Nedio Georgiev invites all residents of the village near Veliko Tarnovo to the holiday.